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Supernatural thoughts
Wow, my flist is busy this morning!
Clearly, I've read too much Piers Anthony, because War's magic ring just doesn't do it for me after the Red Sword. But I'll get to that...
I guess before I squee over this week's ep, I need to explain why I hated last week's. I've only read reactions and meta on my own friends list; I plan on staying spoiler free and the only way to do that is to avoid most of the comms. But my impression is that my reaction to last week's ep is not the common one.
The episode lost me right at the beginning with its literal Deus Ex Machina opening. I do not like season-end cliffhangers in any show - I think they're a cheap shot to a loyal audience - but at least most shows use them properly. SPN has a habit of handwaving over them: the season one cliffhanger appeared to end with all three Winchesters dead; season two opened with two of them perfectly fine. Season two ended with an army escaped from Hell; S3 opened with "but it's not as bad as you thought". Season three...well, there you go.
I didn't have high hopes, therefore, for the season five opener, but I thought at least there might be something exciting to get the boys out of ground zero. But no. It was God. What crap. And just to make it perfect, this up to now canonically non-existent deity gave Sammy a supernatural detox into the bargain. Dude, that ain't a miracle, that's sloppy, sloppy writing.
Although it didn't seem entirely in-character, I freaking cheered when Bobby told Sam to lose his number. Not because he was right, but because Sam so badly needed someone to give him a speech like that, and Dean the fucking coward wasn't stepping up to the plate. Sam needed it emotionally, I mean, because he did screw up, so badly there's no apologising for it, and he knows it. For Dean to deny Sam his acknowledgement of that is denying him the possibility of atonement, and that's worse than cowardice, it's cruel.
Yeah - I'm not a fan of Dean.
So for Bobby to then turn out to be possessed robbed that moment of all its power. Not to mention - sloppy, sloppy writing. Because, seriously, Bobby? Bobby the demon expert, who laces beer with holy water and has devil's traps in his ceiling, Bobby doesn't have an anti-possession tattoo or an amulet or something? Seriously? We're supposed to believe that Bobby is that stupid? Seriously?
That's not only sloppy writing, it's insulting to every single fan of this show.
As is the continual mockery of the fanbase via Chuck and his stories. There is a huge difference between the kind of mockery that comes from affection and the kind that comes from contempt. This has always felt like the latter to me. Sure, fen can be a bit nutty. And I get that the men who run this show have no more chance of understanding the appeal of slash and wincest than I do of comprehending the offside rule. But I don't appreciate being publically mocked for being female...which is what this amounts to.
And then there was the end of the episode. Now, don't get me wrong: I'm not pissed off that Dean "broke up" with Sam. I'm not pissed off that he finally told Sam what he was thinking. I'm pissed because of Dean's reasoning. Be angry that Sam went darkside - fine. But the whole "you chose a demon instead of me" - I swear, if Dean were real, I'd be sending him hate mail for that.
Because, Dean, you left him first. You betrayed Sam in the worst way possible when you made that deal. You took away from him the only thing he'd asked of you in the whole two years he followed you around everywhere. And you didn't do it for him. You were a selfish bastard and you put Sam through hell just as much as you went through it. Except you fucking earned it; Sam didn't.
So, yeah, Sam screwed up. But he trusted Ruby because you took away the only other person on earth available for him to trust. Quit blaming Sam and take your share of the responsibility.
*takes deep breath*
I was really hoping Castiel was dead, too...though I didn't really expect it. If he were a pretty blonde, he'd be dead. He had a dick, so he gets to come back. That's how it works on this show, right? (Cynical? Me?)
Not that there wasn't stuff to like in the episode. Bobby stabbing himself? Badass! Dean as Michael's vessel...I very much like the implications of that (given that being a vessel is apparently genetic, does that mean Mary was, too? Or perhaps John? I'd go with Mary, though, given her belief in angels and it would explain the YED's attraction to her, wouldn't it...?) but I have a horrible feeling this is going to end up with Dean = God/Christ and if it does I am done with this show. Totally done.
So...on to episode 2...
Can you guess how loud I squealed when I saw Alona's name in the opening credits? Oh my Gods, I never expected that! I'd been spoiled for Ellen's appearance, but I never thought they'd bring back Jo! So there was a good chance I'd love this episode no matter how bad it turned out.
But I really enjoyed it.
I like that Bobby isn't just pefectly okay now - emotionally as well as physically. Did Zach do that to him? Because I'm a little confused as to how stabbing himself in the stomach could leave him unable to walk...I'm not a doctor, but from my knowledge of physiology that doesn't seem to quite work. But anyhow. I like consequences.
The whole thing with the amulet...man, I don't know. I liked that Dean didn't want to give it up, but he should have put up more of a fight, especially after what he said last week (sure, he said he didn't mean it, but he did). But while on one hand I'm glad to know Dean's amulet has some significance for it to be what Castiel claimed seems...I dunno. A bit too much coincidence? I mean, the amulet came from Bobby, who intended it for John. Which raises a lot of questions over who knew what and when, doesn't it? With all the talk of "destiny" last season, it just bugs me that something so very important would coincidentally be hanging around Dean's neck. I mean, isn't finding something like that supposed to be a challenge?
When they got to the town...okay, I don't usually comment on the music but that particular song choice? Certain visuals associated with it are burned into my brain from Top of the Pops on its original release...and I think you need to know about the band to really get the irony of that one. It was a freaking brilliant choice of music: it actually gave away what was happening in the town, if you were paying attention. And I was...but I didn't think, after last week, that the writers were that brilliant. Stroke of genius.
I have a slight problem with Sam's fight in the store...but maybe that was the point. I mean, he did try an exorcism first before he went for the knife, but it looked to me like he was really struggling. Which would make sense if those kids really were possessed, but seriously - Sam can't fight a pair of teenagers? Sam who, two seasons ago, overpowered half a SWAT team single-handed? I guess it ties into what Sam was saying at the end, that maybe he went for the kill when he didn't need to, but just the same...it bothers me.
But not enough to put me off. I'm not too fussed about Rufus; he's a good character, but he's not especially interesting to me. But seeing Ellen again was wonderful and seeing Jo! Hunting! Competent! All grown up and from what I could see, damned good at the job, in spite of Ellen's opinion. That almost makes up for everything I hated last week. I fucking love Jo, and I want to see her back. More! That brief acknowlegement of everything that passed between her and Dean - totally perfect. Man...see, when my show does good it does good.
(Now can we have John back, too? Pretty please with cherry on top?)
(Yeah...I know. But I won't stop hoping.)
The appearance of "War" bothers me only because I have a very different image in my head for the four horsemen (blame Piers Anthony, as I said above). But while the ring seems a tad hokey to me, I wonder if Dean wasn't far off base with his LOTR reference. I mean, whatever happened to War himself (I'm betting he ain't dead or even gone) the ring's obviously a thing of power. Are they gonna have to collect something from all four? And if so, what will the others be? And what will they have to do with them? Or maybe I've just read too much high fantasy?
As for the end...that had to happen. And I'm glad it did. I hope it's not the cue for another season of The Dean Show, because I've really had more than enough of that, but what's between the brothers is so completely broken now, I think they need to make a complete break before they can start to heal it. And they will heal. I have confidence (if only in fanfic).
Clearly, I've read too much Piers Anthony, because War's magic ring just doesn't do it for me after the Red Sword. But I'll get to that...
I guess before I squee over this week's ep, I need to explain why I hated last week's. I've only read reactions and meta on my own friends list; I plan on staying spoiler free and the only way to do that is to avoid most of the comms. But my impression is that my reaction to last week's ep is not the common one.
The episode lost me right at the beginning with its literal Deus Ex Machina opening. I do not like season-end cliffhangers in any show - I think they're a cheap shot to a loyal audience - but at least most shows use them properly. SPN has a habit of handwaving over them: the season one cliffhanger appeared to end with all three Winchesters dead; season two opened with two of them perfectly fine. Season two ended with an army escaped from Hell; S3 opened with "but it's not as bad as you thought". Season three...well, there you go.
I didn't have high hopes, therefore, for the season five opener, but I thought at least there might be something exciting to get the boys out of ground zero. But no. It was God. What crap. And just to make it perfect, this up to now canonically non-existent deity gave Sammy a supernatural detox into the bargain. Dude, that ain't a miracle, that's sloppy, sloppy writing.
Although it didn't seem entirely in-character, I freaking cheered when Bobby told Sam to lose his number. Not because he was right, but because Sam so badly needed someone to give him a speech like that, and Dean the fucking coward wasn't stepping up to the plate. Sam needed it emotionally, I mean, because he did screw up, so badly there's no apologising for it, and he knows it. For Dean to deny Sam his acknowledgement of that is denying him the possibility of atonement, and that's worse than cowardice, it's cruel.
Yeah - I'm not a fan of Dean.
So for Bobby to then turn out to be possessed robbed that moment of all its power. Not to mention - sloppy, sloppy writing. Because, seriously, Bobby? Bobby the demon expert, who laces beer with holy water and has devil's traps in his ceiling, Bobby doesn't have an anti-possession tattoo or an amulet or something? Seriously? We're supposed to believe that Bobby is that stupid? Seriously?
That's not only sloppy writing, it's insulting to every single fan of this show.
As is the continual mockery of the fanbase via Chuck and his stories. There is a huge difference between the kind of mockery that comes from affection and the kind that comes from contempt. This has always felt like the latter to me. Sure, fen can be a bit nutty. And I get that the men who run this show have no more chance of understanding the appeal of slash and wincest than I do of comprehending the offside rule. But I don't appreciate being publically mocked for being female...which is what this amounts to.
And then there was the end of the episode. Now, don't get me wrong: I'm not pissed off that Dean "broke up" with Sam. I'm not pissed off that he finally told Sam what he was thinking. I'm pissed because of Dean's reasoning. Be angry that Sam went darkside - fine. But the whole "you chose a demon instead of me" - I swear, if Dean were real, I'd be sending him hate mail for that.
Because, Dean, you left him first. You betrayed Sam in the worst way possible when you made that deal. You took away from him the only thing he'd asked of you in the whole two years he followed you around everywhere. And you didn't do it for him. You were a selfish bastard and you put Sam through hell just as much as you went through it. Except you fucking earned it; Sam didn't.
So, yeah, Sam screwed up. But he trusted Ruby because you took away the only other person on earth available for him to trust. Quit blaming Sam and take your share of the responsibility.
*takes deep breath*
I was really hoping Castiel was dead, too...though I didn't really expect it. If he were a pretty blonde, he'd be dead. He had a dick, so he gets to come back. That's how it works on this show, right? (Cynical? Me?)
Not that there wasn't stuff to like in the episode. Bobby stabbing himself? Badass! Dean as Michael's vessel...I very much like the implications of that (given that being a vessel is apparently genetic, does that mean Mary was, too? Or perhaps John? I'd go with Mary, though, given her belief in angels and it would explain the YED's attraction to her, wouldn't it...?) but I have a horrible feeling this is going to end up with Dean = God/Christ and if it does I am done with this show. Totally done.
So...on to episode 2...
Can you guess how loud I squealed when I saw Alona's name in the opening credits? Oh my Gods, I never expected that! I'd been spoiled for Ellen's appearance, but I never thought they'd bring back Jo! So there was a good chance I'd love this episode no matter how bad it turned out.
But I really enjoyed it.
I like that Bobby isn't just pefectly okay now - emotionally as well as physically. Did Zach do that to him? Because I'm a little confused as to how stabbing himself in the stomach could leave him unable to walk...I'm not a doctor, but from my knowledge of physiology that doesn't seem to quite work. But anyhow. I like consequences.
The whole thing with the amulet...man, I don't know. I liked that Dean didn't want to give it up, but he should have put up more of a fight, especially after what he said last week (sure, he said he didn't mean it, but he did). But while on one hand I'm glad to know Dean's amulet has some significance for it to be what Castiel claimed seems...I dunno. A bit too much coincidence? I mean, the amulet came from Bobby, who intended it for John. Which raises a lot of questions over who knew what and when, doesn't it? With all the talk of "destiny" last season, it just bugs me that something so very important would coincidentally be hanging around Dean's neck. I mean, isn't finding something like that supposed to be a challenge?
When they got to the town...okay, I don't usually comment on the music but that particular song choice? Certain visuals associated with it are burned into my brain from Top of the Pops on its original release...and I think you need to know about the band to really get the irony of that one. It was a freaking brilliant choice of music: it actually gave away what was happening in the town, if you were paying attention. And I was...but I didn't think, after last week, that the writers were that brilliant. Stroke of genius.
I have a slight problem with Sam's fight in the store...but maybe that was the point. I mean, he did try an exorcism first before he went for the knife, but it looked to me like he was really struggling. Which would make sense if those kids really were possessed, but seriously - Sam can't fight a pair of teenagers? Sam who, two seasons ago, overpowered half a SWAT team single-handed? I guess it ties into what Sam was saying at the end, that maybe he went for the kill when he didn't need to, but just the same...it bothers me.
But not enough to put me off. I'm not too fussed about Rufus; he's a good character, but he's not especially interesting to me. But seeing Ellen again was wonderful and seeing Jo! Hunting! Competent! All grown up and from what I could see, damned good at the job, in spite of Ellen's opinion. That almost makes up for everything I hated last week. I fucking love Jo, and I want to see her back. More! That brief acknowlegement of everything that passed between her and Dean - totally perfect. Man...see, when my show does good it does good.
(Now can we have John back, too? Pretty please with cherry on top?)
(Yeah...I know. But I won't stop hoping.)
The appearance of "War" bothers me only because I have a very different image in my head for the four horsemen (blame Piers Anthony, as I said above). But while the ring seems a tad hokey to me, I wonder if Dean wasn't far off base with his LOTR reference. I mean, whatever happened to War himself (I'm betting he ain't dead or even gone) the ring's obviously a thing of power. Are they gonna have to collect something from all four? And if so, what will the others be? And what will they have to do with them? Or maybe I've just read too much high fantasy?
As for the end...that had to happen. And I'm glad it did. I hope it's not the cue for another season of The Dean Show, because I've really had more than enough of that, but what's between the brothers is so completely broken now, I think they need to make a complete break before they can start to heal it. And they will heal. I have confidence (if only in fanfic).